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The Alien Dead

  • 1980
  • R
  • 1h 14m
IMDb RATING
2.8/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
The Alien Dead (1980)
ComedyHorrorSci-Fi

A meteor hits a houseboat, turning its occupants into zombies feeding on alligators. As reptiles dwindle, they target townspeople. A scientist investigates disappearances caused by the undea... Read allA meteor hits a houseboat, turning its occupants into zombies feeding on alligators. As reptiles dwindle, they target townspeople. A scientist investigates disappearances caused by the undead houseboat dwellers.A meteor hits a houseboat, turning its occupants into zombies feeding on alligators. As reptiles dwindle, they target townspeople. A scientist investigates disappearances caused by the undead houseboat dwellers.

  • Director
    • Fred Olen Ray
  • Writers
    • Fred Olen Ray
    • Martin Nicholas
  • Stars
    • Buster Crabbe
    • Ray Roberts
    • Linda Lewis
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    2.8/10
    1.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Fred Olen Ray
    • Writers
      • Fred Olen Ray
      • Martin Nicholas
    • Stars
      • Buster Crabbe
      • Ray Roberts
      • Linda Lewis
    • 44User reviews
    • 19Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos13

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    Top cast51

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    Buster Crabbe
    Buster Crabbe
    • Sheriff Kowalski
    Ray Roberts
    • Tom Corman
    • (as Raymond Roberts)
    Linda Lewis
    • Shawn Michaels
    George Kelsey
    • Emmet Michaels
    Mike Bonavia
    • Miller Haze
    Dennis Underwood
    • Deputy Campbell
    John Leirier
    • Paisley
    Rich Vogan
    • Krelboin
    Martin Nicholas
    • Doc Ellerbe
    • (as Martin Alan Nicholas)
    Norman Riggins
    • Mr. Griffith
    Nancy Kranz
    • Mrs. Griffith
    • (as Nancy Karnz)
    Ellena Contello
    • Mae Hawkins
    • (as Ellena Contella)
    Shelley Youngren
    • Angry Wife
    Fred Olen Ray
    Fred Olen Ray
    • Pool Player
    Chuck Sumner
    • Gordon…
    Bernice Kelsey
    • Farmer's Wife
    Ken Triplet
    • Farmer…
    Jocelyn Davies
    • Girl Swimmer
    • Director
      • Fred Olen Ray
    • Writers
      • Fred Olen Ray
      • Martin Nicholas
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews44

    2.81.3K
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    Featured reviews

    ArizonaGeek

    If are looking for a movie real bad, this is a real bad movie

    I bought this movie on Ebay for $5 and watch it about once every 6 months or so. If I would have paid more than $5 for it, I would have felt cheated. This is a movie that you would watch just for the cheesy laughs you get out of it. There is gratuitous nudity and Buster Crabbe which was pretty much the reason why I bought this movie. This is a movie that cant be taken serious. Rent it or buy it purely for the lame "effects" and the terrible acting. It would not surprise me to find out that this film was made on a budget in par with some 10 year old kids milk money.
    6polysicsarebest

    Decent...

    I always heard that this was the absolute worst zombie movie of all time, but I'd much rather watch this than Zombie Nightmare, Revenge of the Dead, or Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things... definitely. You could do a lot worse than watching this movie, which actually has some pretty fun moments. I mean, people that this film was made for will probably find it appealing no matter what anyone says about it; anyone that is looking for a serious horror movie in here probably doesn't realize that the title of the movie is "ALIEN DEAD", which makes ME laugh quite a bit. Eh.

    This film, which was made for $12,000 (and they used every penny of it), is about a meteor crashing and turning rednecks into zombies. The film suffers from a really grainy look and features horrible sound (which may have been cleaned up for the recent DVD release.. whoopty doo). The editing is quite awful; there are a few times when they cut to another scene while someone is talking (kind of like near the end of Invasion of the Blood Farmers when the cop is talking and picks up the phone and says "F..." and then it cuts to a scene of a guy driving -- what?!).

    The story is terrible, the "effects" are terrible. A person will get killed, but the camera cuts away really quickly and then shows the aftermath of blood being in a big hole in a woman's chest. Or another woman will get stabbed with a pitchfork, but you won't see it actually enter the woman -- you'll just see the pitchfork sticking out of her back. It's quite laughably bad, but at least they tried to give some gore, with some of the zombies chomping on entrails. The musical score is cheesy but good; however, they actually use real country songs to add "ambience" to the redneck surroundings, which is hilariously awful.

    When it was over, I can safely say I wasn't bored and I distinctly remember enjoying myself throughout the whole thing. However, it's kind of hard to write a really detailed review for this, as this flick is pretty much unmemorable when it's all said and done.
    ronjaffe

    Flesh - It's what's for dinner

    Following in the footsteps of H.G. Lewis....following WAY BEHIND, comes Fred Olen Way with Alien Dead. This movie highlights the dangers of houseboating in Florida and shows people once and for all that people hit by metorites really do turn into zombies. Filmed locally here in Oviedo Florida and Rock Springs State Park now called Kelly State Park, Alien Dead illustrates the passive nature of Floridians in how they never run when being attacked by the undead... They just make the horrible face, scream and gently fall on the ground while the zombies chew them up for dinner.

    One might think that the horrible plot, video, sound, acting, lighting, etc. is strange enough, but what's even stranger is that half the movie shows people actually swimming in Florida water...something we locals haven't done for decades.

    This movie is destined to make the Something Awful Video lineup one day. Let us hope it happens before this wonderfully awful movie fades away into the sunset.

    Interestingly enough, the movie does have a big name, Buster Crabbe. Yes, the same Buster Crabbe from the Buck Roger's fame, playing the local sheriff who is followed around by his dorky deputy sidekick.

    And if the ending leaves you saying anything other than, "What the hell just happened?" then either you fell asleep, or worse...you actually did understand it.

    Ron Jaffe Orlando, Florida
    Manna-2

    Alien Dead is hard to explain!

    The Alien Dead is hard to explain. It was released during the so-called "horror explosion" of the 80's (back when Attack of the Killer Refridgerator was big) and it is another experiment into horror. What happens is a rock falls from space and crashes into a boat full of stoners (they're drinking their liquor of choice and smoking some skunk) and causes them to become flesh-hungry zombies. They then turn of the townsfolk and begin their rampage and feeding. Wew! Sounds cheesy and actually is. It's good watching but we found ourselves struggling towards the end and looking forward to the conclusion. This film runs 89 minutes and has an all-star cast of nobodies. If you're looking for a new (or not-so-new) twist on the zombie flick, The Alien Dead is an ideal starting point. Otherwise, stay away
    Backlash007

    "That was before strange things started occurring in this sleepy little town…and now things will never be the same again."

    The Alien Dead is another strong candidate for "worst movie EVER." Fred Olen Ray is, without a doubt, the worst director working today. I can't believe this guy is still making movies. This is one of his first genre offerings and a terrible, terrible movie. Where to begin? The lighting, or lack thereof, is an appropriate starting point I suppose. You can't see anything that's going on in this flick. It's awful. The lighting guy (assuming there was one) should be shot. Next stop: inane dialogue. What in the hell was up with the brainless dialogue and the delivery of said brainless dialogue? It's pathetic at best. And the music...nevermind. Just stay away from this one. I am now dumber after witnessing the dreaded terror of the Alien Dead.

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    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby (1968)
    Horror
    James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Sci-Fi

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      An earlier draft of the script was about giant killer leeches. This was later changed to zombies when Fred Olen Ray realized that leech costumes would be too expensive for the film's modest budget.
    • Goofs
      An old lady gets stabbed with a three-pronged pitchfork and four prongs come out of her back!
    • Quotes

      Tom Corman: What do you think about, Shawn?

      Shawn Michaels: I don't know. Growing up. Getting out of the swamp. Eating hamburgers. Stuff like that.

    • Connections
      Featured in You Won't Stop Screaming (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Bluegrass On My Mind
      (uncredited)

      Performed by The American Bluegrass Express

      [Played in the bar scene towards the beginning of movie]

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    FAQ16

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 1, 1980 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Alien dead
    • Filming locations
      • Oviedo, Florida, USA
    • Production company
      • Firdbird International Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $12,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 14m(74 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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